Reeling mechanism



April l, 1941.

E. G. PARVIN '2231i i2 REELING MECHANISM Fild Dec. 2, 3.959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Yao .ZN VEN TOR .f2/ward plarvn AH-o Primas.

E. G. PARVIN REELING MECHANISM April 1, 1941.

ls sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1959 NVENTOR Gua ggg Edward April 1 1941 E. G. PARvxN 2,237,132

REELIHG MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Tm/mwa.

Edward 1, Pam/m Patented Apr. 1, 1941 REELING MECHANISM Edward G. Parvin, Roselle, N. J., assignor to'National Pneumatic Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of West Virginia Application December 2, 1939, Serial No. 307,203

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in reeling mechanism, particularly of the type employed with wire drawing, coating, annealing, and the like apparatus, with particular relation to the drive and the control thereof for the takeup reel or spool. y

'Ihe main object of this invention is the provision of an automatically acting takeup reel operating mechanism `controlled by the wire itself for maintaining a substantially uniform tension in the Wire as it is Wrapped onto the takeup reel while compensating for the gradual increase in diameter of the coil as the reel is filled.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision in a mechanism of this type of a magnetic slip clutch drive for the takeup reel controlled by the tension in the wire, any desired adjustment for which can be established and maintained, whereby the wire is wrapped onto the takeup reel under suiciently uniform tension.

' A still further object of the invention is the provision of a variable power supply for energizing the magnetic slip clutch wherein the variations in the power supply are controlled directly by the tension in the wire.

Other and more specific objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the attached drawings.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, and relative.

location of parts, all in accordance with this disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a diagrammatic elevational view of an apparatus in accordance with this invention as applied to a wire drawing machine;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic circuit layout illustrating the manner of controlling the supply of energy to the magnetic slip clutch;

Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, auto-transformer and variable resistance arrangements which may `be used in place of the arrangement of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic layout of a modified arrangement in accordance with this invention, employing an automatically acting brake.

One of the oldest and most diilicult problems which has long existed in the reeling art and for which many unsuccessful solutions have been suggested is that of compensating for the increase in diameter of the coil being reeled so as to maintain a uniform tension in the wire being reeled 4 and hence in the turns on the takeup reel. This difficulty is increasingly noticeable as the speed of the reeling mechanism is increased in accordance with modern demands, and in the case of fine strands as the diameter of the strand decreases. For example, in the wire drawing, coating` and.- annealing arts, there is extensively encountered today the problem of reeling extremely ne wire, such as, for example, enamel copper wire of a diameter of 0.004 inch. In view of the fact, for example, that a pound of wire this small runs to great lengths, it is desirable in the handling thereof to have arapidly operating machine. The apparatus of this invention has demonstrated itself to be capable of reeling, under a Substantially uniform tension, a wire of this diameter at the rate of a mile a minute. In order to attain such remarkable results it is obvious that the reeling mechanism must be exceedingly sensitive while at the same time stable and capable of responding rapidly to any changes in tension in the wire and to compensate faithfully for the increase in diameter of the reel in order to prevent breakage of the wire at Such high speeds.

In describing in detail the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, as practical embodiments thereof, it may be noted at the outset that although the reeling mechanism has been shown in connection with a wire drawing machine it is, of course, apparent that it may be used in connection with any typeof strand treating machine from which the strand is delivered for reeling onto a reel or spool. Thus the invention, as will become apparent later, may be used not only with wire drawing machines but may be used with wire coating and annealing machines and with all types of machines for treating threads, as in the case of spinning cotton threads, natural and artiicial silk threads, and the like.

Referring to Figure l, the wire W fed from any suitable source moves from the left towards the right through a wire drawing die l, is wrapped one and a half times around the wheel or pulley 2, back around the wheel or pulley 4, forward again to the wheel or pulley 2, and thence to and partially around the wheel or pulley 6. It then passes through the drawing die 8, which further reduces its diameter, and from there it is wrapped one and -a half times around the Wheel or pulley 9, travels back and around wheel or pulley 6, and thence forward to and through the drawing die Il. From the drawing die Il it passes partially around the wheel or pulley I2, down to and partially around the wheel or pulley I4, and thence back up to the idler roller i5. From this roller it passes down onto the takeup reel or spool I6. The Wheels 4 and 6 are idler wheels and are mounted upon the shafts and 1, respectively, which are lournaled in suitable bearings, not shown. The wheels 2 and 8 are secured to the shafts 3 and I8, respectively, and mounted in suitable bearings, not' shown. Shaft I8 is rotated through any suitlTable form of drive, las for example a belt I`9,

which cooperates with a pulley 20 on the shaft I8/ and a pulley I8 on theshaft of the .drive motor I1. A second pulley indicated by the reference numeral 2l secured to shaft I8 is connected by a suitable drive, such as a pulley 22, to a pulley 23 secured to the shaft 3. Pulley I2 is secured to a shaft I3 journaled in suitable bearings, not shown, which shaft is, provided with a pulley 26 connected to a pulley 24 on the shaft I8 by means of a belt 25. It may be noted that chain belts, gears, or other suitable forms of drive may be employed instead of belts.

Referring to Figure 3, the takeup reel or spool I6 is mounted on a shaft 49 journaled in the frame of 'the magnetic slip clutch 38. The inner end of the shaft 49 is provided with a disc 48, preferably of a magnetic material, on which a suitable squirrel cage winding is mounted. Thus the spool I6, shaft 49 and disc 48 rotate as a unit. Mounted in the frame of the clutch is a magnetic field pole 45 having a circular head and having wound on the shank thereof a direct current magnetizing winding 44. Passing axially through the iield pole is a shaft 46, on the inner end of which is mounted a magnetizable poled disc 41 and on the inner end of the shaft is a drive pulley 29. The disc 41 is caused to rotate by reason of a belt 28 connecting the pulley 29 with a pulley 21 on the motor I1. The discs 41 and 48 are mounted with respect to each other and disc 41 is mounted with respect to the end face of the eld pole 49 so as to provide minimum air gaps.

The full details of construction of a suitable magnetic clutch of this type are set forth in copendlng application Serial No. 280,768, iiled June 23, 1939, entitled "Magnetic slip clutch. 'I'he pulley or wheel I4 is joumaled for rotation on a spindle 3l mounted in the end of a lever 32. This lever is a continuation of a dlametrically extending arm 34 upon which a weight is mounted for adjustment in a radial direction. The combined lever 32-44 is secured to a shaft 33 in a device for controlling the amount of current supplied to the magnetic slip clutch, which device is in the form of an induction transformer 36. Also secured to the shaft 33 is a lever 38 which is -plvvotallv connected to a piston in a dash-pot 31 Y for stabilizing the movement of shaft 33 and the parts connected thereto.

The induction transformer device 36 lconsists, as is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 3, of a magnetic eld structure having a pair of poles on which are iield windings supplied from an alternating current source through the supply leads 39. Mounted in the eld ux is a rotor 68,

on which is mounted a rotor winding 48 connected by the leads 4I to a full wave alternating current rectiiier 42-of any suitable form. The rectier, which has been shown diagrammatically, may be of the vacuum tube type, the oxide coated dryjplate type, or any other available rectier suitable for the purpose. The direct current output leads 43 of the rectifier are connected to the field Winding 44 of the magnetic slip clutch.

In the operation of this apparatus, it will be noted that the wheels 2, 9 and I2 are power driven, and that the wire W is wrapped therearound, so as to be pulled without slipping through the die blocks I, 8 and Il. The wheels or pulleys 4, 6 and I4 are idlers in that they simply serve to guide the wire and are driven by it. The Wire after leaving pulley I2 passes one-half turnaround the wheel I4 and returns to pulley I5 over pulley I2. Thus the weighted arm 32-34 is supported by a single loop in the wire W and any change in the tension of the wire travelling to the takeup spool I8 will tend to move shaft 33 througha lever 32. The response in movement of arm 32 to changes in tension of the wire W may be controlled by shifting the weight 35 on the lever 84. The rotary movements of shaft 33 cause a proportionate rotational movement to the rotor 88 and the winding 48 thereon, varying the numberY of lines of force linking lt and thereby varying the A. C. iiowing in the leads 4I. The result is that the output of the rectifier 42 is likewise varied, changing the strength of the D. C. owing to the winding 44. As the current increases in winding 44 it will be seen that the force required to cause slippage at the spool I6 will increase, while decreasing the amount of current in winding 44 will decrease the force necessary to cause slippage of the spoolIB. Thus, with this arrange-- ment, as the coll on the spool I6 increases in diameter, requiring more wire per` turn, the tension in the wire increases, causing clockwise rotation of lever 32 and rotor 68 and reducing thefiux linkages for the lcoll 48, with the result that the current in winding 44 is reduced and the magnetic field thereof weakened. Thus, slippage or relative movement between the driving member 41 and the driven member 48 of the clutch may increase, with the result that the tension in the wire going to the takeup spool returns to a desired pre-set value.

There are other arrangements which may be used in place of the induction transformer. Thus in the arrangement of Figure 4 an auto-transformer 38 is employed comprising a magnetizable core 58 having a winding 5I thereon. This device is provided with a movable contact finger 52 secured to the shaft 33 on which the arm 32 is mounted. The alternating current output leads 4I supply the rectifier 42 as before, which in turn supplies direct current to the winding 44. Thus the auto-transformer provides an arrangement equivalent to the induction transformer for proportioning the current in accordance with the tension in the wire.

An entirely D. C. circuit arrangement may be employed, as illustrated by the variable resistance 36". In lthis case a suitable support 53 is provided on which is wound a resistance winding 54, and movable contact nger 52 connected to the shaft 33 moves over the resistance, including more or less of it in the circuit to the winding 44 depending upon the tension in the wire passing to the wheel mounted on the arm 32'. In this, as well as in the previous arrangement, the adjustable weight is provided to initially adjust the apparatus for a desired tension which is to be maintained by the apparatus notwithstanding the fact that the reel tends to demand more wire per turn as the coil on there builds up in diameter.

' In the arrangement of Figure 6 the principles of this invention have been expanded to include a braking mechanism which goes into action automatically with deenergization of the main driving motor to gradually bring the takeup reel to a stop without breaking the wire. The action of the brake is controlled in accordance with variations in the tension in the wire, so that as the tension tends to build up the brake energization is decreased, with the result that before the wire can break the strain on it is relieved. With proper adjustment the braking apparatus of this invention acts, in effect, to maintain a substantially uniform tension in the wire as the takeup reel is brought to a stop.

A mechanism which may be incorporated as a part of the system previously described is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6. For purposes of illustration, the main driving motor I1 has been illustrated as a three-phase alternating current motor. It may be observed, as will be apparent from the following description, that the circuit arrangement of Figure 6 is, in effect, a more complete disclosure of the arrangement of Figure 3 and embodying therein, and in addition, the braking features.

The energy supply wires from a suitable threephase alternating current source are shown as comprising the wires 1 I, 12 and 13 which are connected to the motor I1 through a relay switch, the movable contacts 14, and 16 of which make and break this circuit. They cooperate in accordance with common practice with related pairs of fixed contacts as shown. The relay is operated by means of solenoid winding 11 which is connected at one terminal to the neutral lead 12 of the three-phase circuit. The other terminal is connected to a wire 11 which terminates at one end at one of a pair of fixed contacts of the normally open push button switch 18 and at the other end at one of a pair of fixed contacts controlled by the movable contact 80. The remaining contact of the pair of switch 18 is connected to one of a pair of fixed contacts of the normally closed push button switch 32 and by wire 19 to Wire 1l. The other contact of the pair of switch 82 is connected to the other contact of the pair controlled by the movable contact 80.

The wires 39 for the stationary winding of the induction transformer are shown connected across one phase of the three-phase circuiton the live side of the main circuit breaker. A switch 39' is included in the circuit of the field winding of the induction transformer. diagrammaticaly but it may be, as those skilled in the art can appreciate, a time delay switch which will automatically open this circuit a predetermined time after the machine has come to rest.

Thus as soon as the motor is energized the field of the induction transformer is energized.

The rotor 6U of the transformer is illustrated as being provided in addition to the winding 40 with a similar winding 40a which is wound on the rotor in a plane at right angles to the plane of the winding 40. Thus when the maximum number of lines of magnetic force from the field are threading the winding 40, no magnetic lines of force are threading the winding 40a. As the rotor moves this relationship is disturbed to the extent that the number of lines of force threading the coil 40 decreases from a maximum, while the number of lines of force threading the winding 40a increases from a minimum. These two windings have one common terminal which is connected by wire 4I to the input of the full wave rectifier 42, as previously described. The other terminal of winding 40 is connected by wire 4Ia to one of a pair of fixed contacts which are interconnected by a movable contact of the relay 84 This switch is illustrated Cil when its winding 81 is deenergized. The other terminal of winding 40a is connected by wire 4ib to one contact of another xed pair normally disengaged by a movable Contact of the relay. The remaining contacts of these two pairs of relay 84 are connected by a common wire 83 to the other input terminal of the recter 42.

One contact of a normally closed pair of relay 84 is connected by wire 43h to one terminal of the energizing winding 84' of the magnetic brake. One contact of a normally open pair of contacts of relay 84 is connected by wire 43a to one terminal of the slip clutch energizing winding 44. The windings 84' and 44 have a common terminal which is connected by wire 43 to one of the output terminals of the rectiner 42. The other output terminal of this rectifier is connected by wire 43' to the remaining contacts of the normally open and the normally closed pair to which the wires 43a and 43h are connected. The magnetic slip clutch of which the winding 44 is a part is diagrammatically shown in this figure and is the device disclosed in the co-pending application Serial No. 280,768 referred to above.

The magnetic brake of which the winding 84' is a part is similar to the slip clutch in that it has a rotor 85 similar to the rotor 41 of the slip clutch but has no second rotor with its squirrel cage winding. The two rotors are belted together by means of a belt 86, as illustrated. At this point it may be noted that the slip clutch and brake may be built into a single unit, as illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 307,204 filed December 2, 1939.

The operating solenoid 81 of the relay 84 is connected at one terminal by wire 88 to wire 13 and its other terminal is connected to the neutral leg of the three-phase circuit between the main relay switch and the motor I1. The induction transformer of this arrangement is, of course, operated as before, its rotor being connected to the arm 32 with its Wire engaging pulley I4 journaled on the end thereof.

In the operation of this system, in order to set the apparatus in motion, switch 39 is first closed and then push button switch 18 is closed with the result that winding 11 is energized from wire 1I through wire 19, switch 18, wire 11, the winding itself and thence to the neutral leg 12. The closing of switch 39' completes the circuit to the field windings of the induction transformer. This causes all of the movable contacts of the relay to engage the fixed contacts with the result that the motor i1 is energized and a holding circuit for the Winding 11' is completed through wire 11, contact 88, wire 8l, normally closed switch 82, and wire 19 to wire 1I. By reason of this holding circuit the starting switch 18 need only be closed momentarily.

In order to deenergize motor i1 the switch 82 is momentarily opened, breaking the holding cir cuit for the winding 11' with the result that the relay opens all the circuits at the movable contacts. At the same time as the motor l1 is energized, alternating current is supplied to the field winding of the induction transformer 36, and at the same time the winding 81 is energized, so that relay 84 is operated to close the two upper pairs of contacts and open the two lower pairs.

The closing of the uppermost pair completes the input circuit to the rectier 42 from the winding 40 of the induction transformer. The closing of the next lower pair completes the output circuit from the rectier 42 including the slip clutch winding d4, with the result that the machine is in full operation and the takeup reel 4B is revolving. This operation continues with the rotor of the induction transformer being automatically positioned as the tension in the wire W going to the takeup reel changes, all as previously described. The brake winding 84' is, of course, deenergized.

When it is desired to stop the machine, switch l2 is opened momentarily with the result that the main relay opens because its winding 11' is deenergized. Relay 84 also returns to normal position because of the deenergization of its winding 81 with the result that the two lower pairs of contacts are closed. The eld winding in the induction transformer remains energized. 'I'he circuit for the winding 40a of the rotor of the induction transformer is completed through the third lowest pair of contacts so that this winding is connected to the input of the rectier 42. The lowest pair of contacts of relay 84 connects the output circuit of the rectier 42 with the brake Winding 84'. Thus the brake acts to bring the reel to a stop but the braking action thereof is varied in accordance with changes in tension in the strand, so that it remains during stopping substantially uniform, thereby preventing breakage of and undue slackness in the strand.- When the machine comes to rest switch 39' is opened or, as explained above, it may be opened automatically by a suitable time delay switch.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention may be embodied in various physical forms and I do not, therefore, desire `to be strictly limited to the arrangement as shown for the purpose of illustration. What I seek to protect lby patent is defined by the scope of the claims granted me.

What I claim is:

Al. In a strand spooling machine, the combination including a magnetic clutch having a iixed magnetizable structure and an energizing winding, d riving and driven members, one of said members being magnetizable and the other having short circuited conducting paths thereon, a reel rotated by said driven member, a current supply circuit for the winding of said clutch, and` means controlled by the strand being wrapped on said reel for varying the current in said circuit whereby the slippage of the clutch is varied to maintain a substantially constant tension in the strand.

2. In a strand spooling machine, the combina- .tion including a magnetic clutch having a iixed magnetizable structure and an energizing windone of said members being magnetizable and the other having a short circuited winding on it, a reel connected to said driven member for rotation thereby, a current supply circuit for the winding of said clutch, means in said circuit for varying the flow of current therethrough, and means controlled lby a strand being wrapped on said reel for operating said current varying means whereby the slippage of said clutch is varied to maintain a substantially uniform tension in said strand.

3. In a mechanismof the 'type described, the combination including means for feeding a strand in the direction of its length, a motive device for operating said means, a magnetic slip clutch having a iixed energizing winding and driving and 'ing and rotatable driving and driven members,

driven members, a reel connected to said driven member for rotation thereby, a current supply circuit for the winding of said clutch, current control means in said circuit, means for connecting said driving member .to said motive device. and means controlled by a strand being wrapped on said reel for operating said current control means whereby the tension in the strand is maintained substantially uniform.

4. In a spooling machine, |the combination comprising a magnetic slip clutch having a direct current energizing winding. a reel connected to said clutch for rotation thereby, an alternating current supply circuit, means operated by changes in tension in the strand for varying the current in said circuit, a full wave rectiiier connected to said circuit, and connections from the output of said rectier to said direct current winding.

5. In a strand spooler, the combination comprising a magnetic slip clutch having a fixed energizing winding, a takeup reel rotated by said clutch, power driven means for moving a strand to said reel along a path which forms a loop therein, a circuit for energizing said winding, means in said circuit for controlling the current therein, and means vconnected rto said last means and engaging the loop in the strand to operate it as the size of the loop varies with changes in Itension in the strand.

6. In a strand spooling machine the combination including a clutch having an energizing winding, a reel rotated by said clutch, a brake for said reel having an energizing winding, current supply circuits for said windings, and means controlled by the strand being Wrapped on said reel for varying the current in said circuit whereby the slippage of the clutch and .the braking action of the brake during operation of Ithe reel thereby and stoppage thereof is varied to maintain a substantially constant tension in the strand.

7. In a strand spooling machine, the combina-- tion including a magnetic clutch having an energizing winding, a reel driven by s-aid clutch, a motor for operating the clutch, a current supply circuit, relay means for completing the circuit to said clutch and motor to eiect operation of the reel, means controlled by a strand being wound on the reel for varying the energlzation of the clutch, an electromagnetic brake for bringing the reel to a stop, circuits for the brake controlled by said relay, means for energizingthe brake when the clutch and motor are deenergized, and means controlled by the strand for varying the energlzation of the brake to maintain a substantially constant tension in the strand as the reel is brought to a stop.

8. In a str-and spooling mechanism, a current supply circut, a reel, a magnetic clutch, a driving motor connectable to said reel by said clutch. means for connecting the clutch and motor to said circuit, means controlled by a strand being wound on said reel for varying the energlzation of said clutch, a magnetic brake for bringing the reel to a stop, and an energizing circuit for said brake including said controlling means whereby the energlzation of said brake is varied in accordance with changes in tension in said strand during stopping.

9. In a mechanism of the type described, Ithe combination including a magnetic clutch comprising a iixed magnetizable structure having an energizing winding, a magnetizable member ro- 'tatably supported in the field of said winding, a second member having a short circuited winding rotatably supported closely adjacent to said magnetizable member, a reel connected to one of said members, and means for driving the other of said members, a circuit connected to said winding, a rotatable control device in said circuit for controlling the current therein, and means connected to the control device and engaged by a strand going to said reel for operating it to vary the current to said Winding.

A10. In a mechanism of the type described, the combination including a magnetic clutch comprising a xed magnetizable structure having an energizing winding, a magnetizable member rotatably supported in the eld of said winding, a second member having a short circuited winding rotatably supported closely adjacent to said magnetizable member, a reel connected to one of said members and means for driving the other of said members, a circuit connected to said Winding, a brake winding for bringing the member connected to the reel to a stop when energized, a circuit for said brake winding, a multiple contact switch for -controlling both of said circuits, means in the circuit to the clutch winding for controlling the current therein, and means engaged by a strand going to saidreel for controlling said last means, said multiple contact switch in one position energizing the clutch winding and in Ithe other position deenergizing i1; and energizing the brake winding.

EDWARD G. PARVIN. 

